Theatrical Releases

Every Friday we now plan to start updating you all with each week's theatrical releases of documentaries. Now, this will not be a perfect process as our beloved genre prefers the limited release schedule instead of a big nationwide or international-wide release. So apologies if a film isn't out in your area, or if you are a filmmaker and we missed the boat on announcing your documentary's big day (if that is the case, please let us know as we try to refine and hone this weekly post).

Now, with that introduction out of the way, here's this weekend's releases with their current rating on the amazing website Rottentomatoes.com:

Capitalism: A Love Story - (73% positive rating) - Plenty of excitement, and controversy, is sure to surround this film from decorated documentarian Michael Moore. This timely film addresses what caused the financial crisis that stopped the world in 2008. Capitalism: A Love Story finds Moore criticizing the government bailout of privately held businesses (Rottentomatoes.com).

Providence Effect - (56% positive rating) - Paul J. Adams III, an African-American man with activist roots in the 1960’s civil rights movement moved to Chicago to form a not-for-profit independent school. That was over 30 years ago. Since then, 100% of Providence St. Mel graduates have been accepted to college, half of them, during the last seven years, to first tier and Ivy League colleges and universities. The Providence Effect traces the school’s development from a struggling shoe-string budget dream into a school and a method of teaching that produces not only inspired students, but parents, teachers and administrators dedicated to settling for nothing less than the highest expectations (Rottentomatoes.com).

In Search Of Beethoven - (91% positive rating) - Award-winning filmmaker Phil Grabsky and Seventh Art Productions are back in theaters with a new feature-length biographical film about the life of Ludwig van Beethoven. In Search of Beethoven takes a comprehensive look at the composer’s life through historical research and Beethoven’s biography and letters, but with the emphasis always on the performance, and interpretation, of Beethoven’s music (Rottentomatoes.com).

Walt & El Grupo Trailer

What an awesome title.  Seriously.  Bravo.  Yes, I know if you read the summary the title basically writes itself, but be honest: how many of you found your interest piqued just by reading Walt & El Grupo?  Alas, it is not a buddy-cop movie in the vein of Turner and Hooch, but then again, I'm a firm believer in true stories out shining fictional ones.

But I digress... the film follows Walt Disney and a group of hand selected artists as they travel around South America on a good will tour for the United States way back in 1941.  It's a story I've never heard, though it does put a little perspective  on why those who don't see the U.S. in a favorable light generally use images of Mickey Mouse in their protests.  Either way, as long as Disney company avoided white-washing this documentary I believe it could actually be a quirky little film (and that's a good thing).

Don't believe me? Well check out the trailer for Walt & El Grupo over at Apple.  It's already out in theaters in very select cities, but keep an eye out for it as it spreads around the country in the coming weeks.

Documentary Standards Needed?

With all the latest controversy surrounding documentary films (the Supreme Court case involving the anti-Hilary Clinton film, Dole suing a filmmaker for intentionally leaving out necessary findings, etc), there is definitely a growing buzz among the documentary world about the need for standards, or even regulations.

Now, obviously, regulating an industry that, at its core, is of a grassroots basis, could be a conflict of interest, but before you strike up the debate, you should read some interesting research done by American University’s Center for Social Media. It's rather long and perhaps even drab, but for those truly interested in the industry, it is definitely worth the read.

As the report says, "Documentary filmmakers identified themselves as creative artists for whom ethical behavior is at the core of their projects. At a time when there is unprecedented financial pressure on makers to lower costs and increase productivity, filmmakers reported that they routinely found themselves in situations where they needed to balance ethical responsibilities against practical considerations."

Whether your a filmmaker, producer, student, professor or just an avid fan of documentaries, I can easily say this is something to be read and definitely debated. I'd like to hear your thoughts too, so feel free to post your reactions.

French Filmmaker Murdered

Longtime journalist and documentary filmmaker Christian Poveda was found murdered this past week by local police in El Salvador. He had been shot in the head. Already his death has been decried by the country's ministers as an investigation is well under way.

Poveda may not be a well known director throughout the world, but his work has won respect and recognition in various festivals. His most recent documentary La Vida Loca highlighted the violent gang members sent back to El Salvador after serving time in U.S. prisons. Not just exclusively a filmmaker, Poveda spent his 30 year career working for various news outlets, including Time and Newsweek magazines.

The Associated Press has a brief but interesting article on the murder, Poveda's career and even a few quotes from the man in connection with the El Salvador gangs. Certainly his death is a tragedy, especially as he appeared to be a fearless investigator for truth. La Vida Loca was already completed and I personally hope his work is featured in more festivals as a tribute to the man and to the stories he uncovered.

Limited Run for MJ's Documentary

Director Kenny Ortega's documentary on the final days of Michael Jackson's life is now set to hit theaters October 28th (two days earlier than previously announced). Sony Pictures announced the change and the surprise two-week limited run right before the weekend. Tickets for those eager to catch the opportunity will be released September 27th.

Titled This is It (after the name of Michael Jackson's planned concert series), the documentary will use select behind-the-scenes footage to detail the legendary singer's final month or so. There is also a rumor that some of the footage will be available in 3-D (which just might make this the first 3-D documentary ever). Ortega took on the role of director after originally working with Jackson as the concert's choreographer.

The choice for a limited release is beyond me, but it's Sony's film and I'm sure they plan to squeeze as much out of the hundreds of hours of footage they have as possible. Head over to the New York Times or US Magazine for a few more details on this documentary.

(It also wouldn't hurt to start praying that this isn't just a money making ploy...)

Stone's Secret History

Legendary director Oliver Stone is known just as well for his successful films (Wall Street, Platoon, Born on the 4th of July) as he is for his failures (W, Nixon, JFK), so it is with great trepidation that I bring news to you of his recently announced documentary series airing on Showtime sometime next year.

Reuters reports that Stone will be producing (and most likely directing) a 10 part documentary series about unknown but influential moments in U.S. history. According to Reuters, "topics for this new [series] will range from the reasons behind the Cold War with the Soviet Union, U.S. President Harry Truman's decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan, and changes in America's global role since the fall of Communism."

While this sounds like a potentially fascinating documentary series there are two red flags to be aware of: 1) Oliver Stone has on occasion 'filled in the blanks' of history to create a more interesting story; 2) Showtime, while certainly improving it's original programming, is not close to the level of HBO and I wonder how such a major project fell into their laps.

All that said, I'm still curious to see this series as I'm a firm believer that when Oliver Stone is on his game, he's one of the best directors of his time.

Another Director Leaves Marley

Bad news for Bob Marley enthusiasts, it seems director Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs, Neil Young: Heart of Gold) is parting ways with the upcoming documentary Marley. According to the NY Post, producer Steve Bing was unimpressed with the first round of editing and most likely asked the talented director to leave the project. Demme is the second director to leave Marley after the originally attached Martin Scorsese left due to scheduling conflicts.

Marley is still scheduled for a February 6th release date (the anniversary of the Jamaican musicians birthday), but there now seems to be a huge void in the production team that Bing may have a difficult time replacing. Yes, a documentary on such a renown musician should easily attract top talent, but having two high profile directors leave the project might indicate a lack of artistic expression. Granted, this is all my personal opinion and I'm truly hoping whoever ultimately is attached to the project can live up to the expectations I once had for a Scorsese/Demme film.

Head over to the NY Post to read the whole story.

Gibney's Health Care Bill

As the battle for health care rages throughout the United States, Oscar-Award winning director Alex Gibney has decided to drop in his two cents worth.  No, he's not speaking at a town hall meeting, nor is he introducing a legislative bill.  Instead, he's doing what every filmmaker does when he feels there needs to be a change: he makes a documentary.

Money Driven Medicine is not necessarily a film choosing one side of the health care debate, or the other, but it is the about director's desire to see some sort of change.  Based off award wining journalist, Maggie Mahar's book of the same name, the film uses countless interviews with doctors (not ordinary citizens) to state their case. Gibney told the Chicago Tribune, "We went out and photographed a lot of doctors and, indeed, doctors who had opted out of the system to become spokespeople for a new idea, to say, 'You know what? Our system is not the best in the world.'"

Both Gibney and Mahar have hit the media tour touting the new film (including a recent interview on Nightline), so it is safe to say their film could be released in the near future.  However, the distributor for Money Driven Medicine (Newsreel) seems quite mum on a potential theatrical run at the moment. Let's hope that changes as a health care reform film may be quite topical as the debate rages throughout the country.

Head on over to the film's current website or ABC News for more on Money Driven Medicine.

John Hughes Documentary

So it's gotten to the point that whenever a celebrity dies, I expect a documentary to be made about them.  Sony is putting together a film on Michael Jackson using previously unused footage, Billy Mays suddenly finds himself in a reality TV series and now it seems the late John Hughes is getting the documentary treatment after his recent death.

Canadian based Alliance Films recently purchased the distribution rights for Matt Austin-Sadowski's documentary, Don't You Forget About Me.  The documentary is the actor's (famous for such roles as the Green Power Ranger) quest to seek out the then-reclusive writer- director that inspired him to enter the profession.  Interviews include Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Mia Sara and others- though sadly Hughes' starlet Molly Ringwald refused to participate.

I've yet to find a specific release date for Don't You Forget About Me (which incidentally, is a great 80's song too), but head on over to Variety for more information.  And if you are unsure who John Hughes is, do yourself a favor and rent Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Breakfast Club, or Planes, Trains and Automobiles- just three of the many great films he either wrote or directed.

Doc Rock with Your Socks Off

Later this week marks the 30th Anniversary of Woodstock and the first recorded proof of a hippie-stoner actually organizing something. With anniversary events and 'best of' lists coming out left and right this week, we couldn't help but admire Bob Tremblay (from the Daily News Tribune) and his attempt to list the top rock documentaries of all time. And in true "Barry from High Fidelity" fashion, he's listed his top ten in alphabetical order.

Head on over to the Daily News Tribune to read the complete article and Tremblay's justification for his picks then come back here and let us know what your list would include.


side note: does anyone else just love the 'intellectual battles' the gang from High Fidelity waged on screen? Because I sure do.